Poets of the Fall - War (Official Video w/ Lyrics)

This is the official music video for the song "War" by the Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall. The video incorporates the lyrics of the song and has a total duration of 4 minutes and 59 seconds. Notably, this song is prominently featured in the video game Alan Wake, performed by the in-game band "Old Gods of Asgard" (who are portrayed by Poets of the Fall in real life).

Song Structure & Narrative Timeline

The song centers around themes of conflict, struggle, companionship, and finding a purpose or anchor during difficult times. Below is a breakdown of the lyrical progression:

Verse 1 [00:10]: The song opens with imagery of a "broken field" and "white crippled wings beating the sky," establishing a bleak atmosphere. The narrator reflects on the grim reality of conflict ("harbingers of war") and expresses a hope to let these painful memories heal.

Chorus [00:45]: The core message of the song is introduced. The narrator states that when they felt entirely isolated in their struggle ("When I thought that I fought thi

s war alone"), a companion was right beside them on the frontline, providing a reason to keep trying.

Verse 2 [01:21]: The narrative shifts toward a desire for change and moving past trauma ("Turn the page I need to see something new"). The narrator mentions how their innocence has been torn apart, comparing the destructive nature of the conflict to "rabid dogs of war."

Chorus Repeat [01:55]: Reinforces the shared destiny between the narrator and their companion, highlighting their joint effort to "believe the impossible."

Bridge [03:04]: This section shifts into higher emotional intensity, detailing a chaotic environment where people hide their true selves ("no-one wearing their real face"). It touches upon the numbing effect of long-standing conflict ("whiteout of emotion"), the degradation of relationships ("when the love in letters fade"), and the loss of foundational morals due to societal pressure ("shedding every value our mothers taught"). It concludes with a desperate plea for authenticity and a reminder

that the companion's name is the ultimate reason for the fight.

Final Chorus [03:56]: The song finishes with a powerful repetition of the chorus, cementing the bond and the shared destiny that got the narrator through the ordeal.

Lyrical Progression Flowchart

The emotional arc of the track moves from isolation to shared strength, peaks at systemic chaos, and resolves back into the personal anchor that kept them grounded:

Poets of the Fall - War (Official Video w/ Lyrics)

Poets of the Fall (Official) · 12M views

+-------------------------------------------------------------+

| [00:00:10] Verse 1 |

| Isolation & Desolate Fields |

+------------------------------+------------------------------+

|

v

+-------------------------------------------------------------+

| [00:00:45] Chorus |

| Discovery of a Companion on the Frontline

|

+------------------------------+------------------------------+

|

v

+-------------------------------------------------------------+

| [00:01:21] Verse 2 |

| Loss of Innocence & Healing |

+------------------------------+------------------------------+

|

v

+-------------------------------------------------------------+

| [00:03:04] Bridge |

| Societal Decay, Arms Race, and Plea for Real Faces |

+------------------------------+------------------------------+

|

v

+-------------------------------------------------------------+

| [00:03:56] Final Chorus |

| Resolution through Entwined Destinies |

+------------------------------------------------------------